Lunch container



S. F GAUTIER LUNCH CONTAINER May 2, 1939.

Filed March 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 5m? 85 P40492231 Attorneys May 2, 1939. I s. F. GAUTIER 2,156,844

LUNCH CONTAINER Fil ed March 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in lunch containers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a large number of compartments of a novel construction and arrangement for the reception of different foods.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a lunch container of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, sanitary, compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

Allof the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the de- Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the invention.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device.

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the closure for the lower compartment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a rectangular box I of suitable dimensions and material, preferably metal. The box I is open at its top and fixed in an upper portion thereof is a horizontal metallic partition 2 dividing said box into upper and lower compartments 3 and 4, respectively.

The upper compartment 3 is subdivided by a plurality of vertical partitions 5 in a manner to provide a series of comparatively small compartments 6 (see Fig. 5) for the reception of different articles of food. The lower compartment 4 is of a size to accommodate a loaf of bread and said lower compartment is open at one end. A removable closure in the form of a metallic plate I is provided for the open end of the compartment 4. Projecting from the plate 1 are resilient flanges 8 which are engageable with the top and bottom of the compartment 4 for frictionally securing said plate 1 in posi- 55 tion. A suitable handle 9 is provided on the plate 1.

The reference numeral l0 designates a metallic cover for the small compartments 6 which is hingedly mounted on the rear wall of the box I, as at H. Also hingedly mounted, as at l2, on the upper rear portion of the box I is a cover It which is formed to provide a compartment M. When the cover I3 is in closed position, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cover l0 5 constitutes the bottom of the compartment 14. A suitable latch or the like I5 is provided for releasably securing the cover l3 in closed position. When closed, the cover I3 rests on the cover it? (see Fig. 3) in a manner to secure 10 said cover it) in closed position on the box I. A carrying bale I6 is pivotally connected to the ends of the box I, said bale being provided with a suitable handle H.

In use, a loaf of bread, either sliced or unsliced, 15 may be conveniently placed in the lower compartment d by simply removing the closure 1. By simply opening the covers l0 and [3, access may be had to the compartments 6 and I 4. The construction and arrangement is such that the 20 various foods in the different compartments are substantially sealed from each other.

It is believed that the many advantages of a lunch container constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A lunch container of the class described comprising a box open at its top, a horizontal partition 35 fixed in the box at an intermediate point providing a compartment in the lower portion of said box, said compartment being open at one end, a closure for the open end of the compartment comprising a plate engageable with the 40 box and resilient fianges projecting inwardly from said plate and frictionally engageable with the top and bottom of the compartment, a plurality of vertical partitions in the upper portion of the box providing a series of compara- 4.5 tively small compartments above the horizontal partition, a cover for the second named compartments hingedly mounted on the box, a sec ond cover, formed to provide a compartment, hingedly mounted on the box and, when in closed position, resting on the first named cover for securing said first named cover in closed position, the first named cover constituting the bottom of the third named compartment when the covers are in closed position, and means for releasably securing the second named cover in closed position on the box.

SIDNEY F. GAUTIER. 

